FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has got behind a nationwide Christmas campaign tackling isolation and loneliness by making a Kindness Call to someone in need.
The call from the First Minister also comes as the Scottish Government announced £6 million worth of funding into a range of projects aimed at tackling social isolation and loneliness – including £75,000 for Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland’s Kindness Caller Programme.
As part of the Christmas Together campaign, she called Chris Smith, 70, from Springfield in Fife and his Kindness Call Volunteer Freya Riley, 18, from Kelty in Fife.
Smith, who is registered blind but still has some sight, had a stroke in April and once discharged from hospital was at home alone due to lockdown. He receives Kindness Calls twice a week from primary teaching student Riley.
Smith said it was “brilliant” to receive a call from the First Minister, who he talked to about how important the calls with Riley are to him. He said: “I really look forward to my calls with her. I call her my wee sunshine. She really brightens up my day.”
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